Macalister Demonstration Farm

Dairy Research Farm demonstrating best management practice

 

Macalister Demonstration Farm

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Newsletter Archive 2008-2017

January 4, 2018 by MDF

Newsletter Archive for newsletters prior to  2018.  View newsletters from 2018 onward at this link.

Newsletters 2017

  • NEWSLETTER 106 October 2017
    (Jennifer McMillan wins the RF(Bob) Pitman Award; Early season – How is production stacking up?; Is yeast the answer? (Split herd feeding trial); Chasing silage at the MDF – How it pays in our system; Buying fodder – Take the risk out of your purchase; Rearing heifers – Contract or do it yourself?; Welcome to our new Director; Become a Friend of the MDF)
  • NEWSLETTER 105 July 2017
    (A good set of numbers – 2016/17 MDF performance; 2017-18 Budget – So what’s different?; Turning the ship around: Making incremental gains in fertility at the MDF; A letter to the Board of Murray Goulburn; RF(Bob) Pitman nominations for 2017; Become a Friend of the MDF)
  • NEWSLETTER 104 March 2017
    (Meet the MDF Directors; RF(Bob) Pitman Award for 2016; MDF – Farm performance ahead of target at half year; We know the value of the nutrients in our effluent – do you?; Become a Friend of the MDF)

Newsletters 2015

  • Newsletter 95 February 15
    (First Macalister Focus Farm Field Day / Yellow Rag Bit / Keeping a watchful eye on summer pasture quality early / What’s been going on at MDF? / Upcoming events)
  • Newsletter 96 March 15
    (The road to recruitment / Yellow Rag Bit / Considering pasture renovation this autumn? / What’s been going on at MDF? / Survey – What do you want from your MDF? / Quick bits / Upcoming events)
  • Newsletter 97 April 2015
    (The road to recruitment – continued / Yellow Rag Bit / Keeping on top of liver fluke / What’s been going on at MDF? / Hassle free calving session at the MDF)
  • Newsletter 98 May 2015
    (Vale Mike Larcombe / The road to recruitment – continued / What’s been going on at MDF? / Hassle free calving session at the MDF – Reminder / Biosecurity exercise at the MDF / Silage Wrap Recycling in Sale)
  • Newsletter 99 June 2015
    (The road to recruitment – a Farm Manager and a Farm Hand have been engaged / Yellow Rag Bit / Things to think about as this financial year ends and the new one begins / What’s been going on at MDF?)
  • Newsletter 100 August 2015
    (A rewarding experience: Living and working at Macalister Demonstration Farm / Yellow Rag Bit / Next MID Irrigation efficiency Incentive Program set for September / What’s been going on at MDF?)
  • Newsletter 101 September 2015
    (Notice of Meeting – Macalister Demonstration Farm Annual General Meeting / Call for nominations – RF (Bob) Pittman Award / Yellow Rag Bit – What to do when you run out of lead feed / What’s been going on at MDF? / Focus farm support group)
  • Newsletter 102 October 2015
    (Macalister Demonstration Farm – Future Directions / Dale Scott announced winner of the RF (Bob) Pitman Award / Yellow Rag Bit / Have you seen these pests in your pastures? / What’s been going on at MDF?)
  • Newsletter 103 December 2015
    (Changing faces at the Macalister Demonstration Farm / Yellow Rag Bit / Irrigating during a dry season at the MDF / What’s been going on at MDF? / The costs of preserving silage at the MDF / And last but not least)

Newsletters 2014

  • Newsletter 85 January 14
    (Australian Dairy Industry Unilever Sustainability Pilot / DEPI – Improving Farm Profitability / MDF Travel and Learning Scholar – Jon Ryan / Upcoming events & courses)
  • Newsletter 86 February 14
    (Spilt Milk – what the MDF did when the vat failed / DEPI – Keeping your cows at their coolest in the MID / Have you done your water budget? / Annual Use Limits in this current season / Upcoming events & courses)
  • Newsletter 87 March 14
    (A big thank you / BVDV at the Demonstration Farm / DEPI – Understanding investments being made by DA / The value in comparing electricity providers / Upcoming events & courses)
  • Newsletter 88 May 14
    (The value of comparing electricity costs – follow up / DEPI – Managing dairy cattle drench resistance / invitation to attend Irrigation Expo and Rubicon Factory in Shepparton / Upcoming events & courses)
  • Newsletter 89 June 14
    (Macalister Demonstration Farm Working Bee / Pour on drenches are absorbed via licking … What? / The Junk Paddock’s transformation / Upcoming events)
  • Newsletter 90 July 2014
    (WTC Irrigation Expo Tour / Yellow Rag / Lameness in Dairy herds / What’s been going on at the MDF?)
  • Newsletter 91 August 2014
    (Macalister Demonstration Farm – GippsDairy Focus Farm / Yellow Rag / High reliability water allocation and the link to Thomson Dam drought reserve / What’s been going on at the MDF? / A big thank you!!)
  • Newsletter 92 September 14
    (Macalister Demonstration Farm – Annual General Meeting / Macalister Demonstration Farm – Nomination of Directors / Call for Nominations – RF (Bob) Pitman Award / Yellow Rag Bit/  MID Irrigation Efficiency Incentives Program / What’s been going on at MDF?)
  • Newsletter 93 October 14
    (Macalister Demonstration Farm – Annual General Meeting / Yellow Rag Bit / Tightening up your dairy herd’s calving pattern / What’s been going on at MDF? / MDF Scholarship – Jon Ryan final report summary – The application of new technology to manage pastures in the Macalister Irrigation District (MID))
  • Newsletter 94 November 14
    (Macalister Demonstration Farm  – Travel and Learning Scholarship / Yellow Rag Bit / How’s your feed and water security for this coming summer? / What’s been going on at MDF?)

Newsletters 2013

  • Newsletter 76 February 13
    (DPI-Coping in the current dry season / Energy Assessments)
  • Newsletter 77 March 13
    (DPI-Reading your own wheel / The first month for our new farm managers)
  • Newsletter 78 April 13
    (DPI-Are your heifers on target? / MDF Scholarship / Health Field Day / ProHand Dairy Cow Course)
  • Newsletter 79 May 13
    (Welcome to Matt Harms: Thank you to Frank Tyndall / Dry cow options leading into winter / DEPI – starting the next milk season in good shape / MDF Health and Safety Field Day / MDF Performance Graphs)
  • Newsletter 80 July 13
    (DEPI – recovering from a tough season / Macalister Demonstration Farm Report / Rural Finance Natural Disaster Recovery Assistance)
  • Newsletter 81 August 13
    (MDF Notice of AGM / Macalister Demonstration Farm Report / DEPI – Managing cows in poor condition and downer cows)
  • Newsletter 82 September 13
    (MDF Notice of AGM / Crucial issues being dealt with by MDF this spring / DEPI – Key messages for MID from Dairy Farm Monitor Project 2012-2013)
  • Newsletter 83 November 13
    (MDF Open Day/Annual Field day / How hard do you chase for additional silage? / Economics of fodder conservation)
  • MDF Newsletter 84 December 13
    (Springing into Summer! / Update on Theileria in Gippsland)

Newsletters 2012

  • Newsletter 61 January 12
    (DPI-Year of the Farmer / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 62 January 12
    (DPI-Your herd’s future / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 63 February 12
    (DPI-Pasture renovation; Water budgets / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 64 March 12
    (DPI-Water sales – broker or auction? / MDF diary)
  • Newsletter 65 April 12
    (DPI-Feeding Pastures for profit / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 66 April 12
    (DPI-To irrigate or not? / MDF diary / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 67 May 12
    (DPI-Drying off / MDF Farm Manager Recruitment)
  • Newsletter 68 June 12
    (Website announcement / DPI-A lower milk price they say! / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 69 June 12
    (Farm Trials / MDF Farm performance / Yellow Rag from 1991)
  • Newsletter 70 June 12
    (Farm Trials / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 71 August 212
    (Taking Care of Pugged Pastures / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 72 August 12
    (Profitable Cow Feeding Considerations / MDF Annual Performance)
  • Newsletter 73 September 12
    (Dairy Business Management Considerations / MDF Weekly Performance)
  • Newsletter 74 November 12
    (MDF Annual Field Day 2012 – How do you find and retain good staff?)
  • Newsletter 75 December 12
    (DPI – how to retain good staff / MDF performance graphs)

Newsletters 2011

  • Newsletter 44 January 11 
    (DPI-Summer management / Soil tests; Dairy energy audit)
  • Newsletter 45 January 11
    (DPI-Observations around the MID / MDF Margin Over all Feed comparison 2010-11)
  • Newsletter 46 February 11
    (DPI-Pasture renovations / Weeds / Carbon emissions reduction strategies – pumping energy)
  • Newsletter 47 March 11
    (DPI-Choosing ryegrass varieties / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 48 April 11
    (DPI-Effluent management / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 49 April 11
    (DPI-Carryovers; MDF diary / Carbon Farming Initiative – What’s in it for dairy farmers?)
  • Newsletter 50 May 11
    (DPI-Facial eczema / MDF diary)
  • Newsletter 51 June 11
    (DPI-Drying off / Grass per cow – a big profit driver / MDF diary)
  • Newsletter 52 June 11
    (DPI-winter feeding / MID Tracker – Feeding for margin / Carbon emissions reduction strategy)
  • Newsletter 53 July 11
    (DPI-Preparing for calving / MDF diary / Dairy energy efficiency – heat extraction)
  • NewsletterA� 54 August 11
    (DPI-Calf trailer / Fertility at MDF / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 55 August 11 
    (DPI-Spring fodder / Profitable dairying / Sub-surface drip irrigation season update 2010-11)
  • Newsletter 56 September 11
    (DPI-Juggling spring / Pestivirus (BVDV) / Sub-surface drip irrigation highlights review)
  • Newsletter 57 October 11
    (DPI-Spring checklist / What is profitability? / OH&S Worksafe inspection report)
  • Newsletter 58 November 11
    (DPI-Cautious optimism / MDF diary / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 59 November 11
    (DPI-Ensile or not? / MID Tracker margin Over all Feed comparison)
  • Newsletter 60 December 11
    (DPI-MID observations / MDF diary / MDF Farm performance)

Newsletters 2010

  • Newsletter 29 January 10
    (DPI-Maffra extension group / Sub-surface drip irrigation update / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 30 February 10
    (DPI-Water trading / MDF Budget to actual; Sustainable soils field day)
  • Newsletter 31 March 10
    (DPI-Climate variability / Seasonal change in feed value in ryegrass)
  • Newsletter 32 March 10
    (DPI-Employee rights / MID Tracker project update)
  • Newsletter 33 April 10
    (DPI-Feeding Pasture for Profit / Feed conversion efficiency / Sub-surface drip irrigation update / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 34 May 10
    (DPI-Seasonal reminders; Seasonal change in energy levels in ryegrass; MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 35 May 10
    (DPI-Water auction / MID Tracker update / Margin Over all Feed)
  • Newsletter 36 July 10
    (DPI-Locusts / Grass intake and profitability / Sub-surface drip irrigation season update 2009-10)
  • Newsletter 37 August 10
    (DPI-Humane calf disposal / MDF Budget)
  • Newsletter 38 August 10
    (DPI-Hot issues update / Daily margins for profit / Sub-surface drip irrigation season challenges)
  • Newsletter 39 September 10
    (DPI-Nitrogen strategies / Impact of nitrogen application on feed quality / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 40 October 10
    (DPI-In calf / Nitrogen fertiliser and gibberellic acid trial)
  • Newsletter 41 October 10
    (DPI-Calf rearing / MDF wins award / Carbon emissions reduction strategies / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 42 November 10
    (DPI-View from the north / Carbon emissions reduction strategies – dairy energy / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 43 December 10
    (DPI-Rain and heat / Pasture energy vs dry matter)

Newsletters 2009

  • Newsletter 13 January 09
    (DPI-Irrigation interval / MDF response to step-down / Sub-surface drip irrigation update)
  • Newsletter 14 February 09
    (DPI-Maximise pasture growth / Sub-surface drip irrigation update / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 15 March 09
    (DPI-Facial eczema / Effect of heat on milk production / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 16 March 09
    (DPI-Purchasing water / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 17 April 09
    (DPI-Dry cow treatment / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 18 May 09
    (DPI-Maximise winter growth / MDF Mating success / soil tests / Sub-surface drip irrigation costings)
  • Newsletter 19 June 09
    (DPI-Selling colostrum / Sub-surface drip irrigation performance review)
  • Newsletter 20 June 09
    (DPI-Cow condition / MDF Budget / Sub-surface drip irrigation hindsight review)
  • Newsletter 21 July 09
    (DPI-Bobby calf options / MDF mastitis / MDF 2008-09 Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 22 August 09
  • (DPI-Lower milk price management options / Partial budgets)
  • Newsletter 23 August 09
    (DPI-Time management / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 24 September 09
    (DPI-Fertiliser decisions / MDF carbon emissions – Impact of CPRS on farm costs / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 25 October 09
    (DPI-Calf rearing / Laneway rock / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 26 November 09
    (DPI-Dairy shed water licensing / MDF Farm performance summary 2008-09)
  • Newsletter 27 November 09
    (DPI-Hay quality / Sub-surface drip irrigation moisture profiles / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 28 December 09
    (DPI-Purchasing water / MID Tracker project)

Newsletters 2008

  • Newsletter 1 April 08
    (Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 2 May 08
    (Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 3 May 08
    (Fertility / Johnea��s Disease)
  • Newsletter 4 June 08
    (Feed tests / Drying off cows)
  • Newsletter 5 July 08
    (DPI-Calving prep / Johnes Disease / Farm budget)
  • Newsletter 6 August 08
    (DPI-Calf deaths / soil tests / fertiliser application rates)
  • Newsletter 7 August 08
    (DPI-After calving feeding / MDF 2007-08 financial performance)
  • Newsletter 8 September 08
    (DPI-diet balance-protein / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 9 October 08
    (DPI-Feed budgets / Margin Over All Feed)
  • Newsletter 10 October 08
    (DPI-Fertiliser application with rising prices / MDF Farm performance)
  • Newsletter 11 November 08
    (DPI-Water budgets / MDF calf weights)
  • Newsletter 12 December 08
    (DPI-Water unbundling / Sub-surface drip irrigation update / MDF Farm performance)

Filed Under: Newsletter

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About the MDF

The Macalister Demonstration Farm, formerly the Macalister Research Farm, is a farmer-owned co-operative established on April 13th 1960. A collaboration between dairy farmers of the MID and the Department of Agriculture at Maffra resulted in the … Read More

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